EUGENE, Ore. – Redshirt senior Cydney Ross smashed the Duke school record in the women’s 800, running a time of 2:02.48 to finish seventh and earn first team All-America honors at the 2013 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Friday, June 7 in Eugene, Ore.

The St. Louis, Mo., native went out hard to begin the race, running the first 400 in approximately 58 seconds just behind Louisiana State’s Natoya Goule. Ross maintained second place for 600 meters but was unable to hold her position in the final surge. However, her time broke the school record, formerly held by Devotia Moore, by nearly a second.

“Great race for Cydney, said Duke Director of Track and Field Norm Ogilvie. “She really laid it all out on the line. She wanted to go out fast and roll the dice a little bit. That was the plan, to go out hard and see what she could do. She started to tie up in the final stretch and people started to pass her but she came into the weekend running a 2:04 and left the school record holder, so that’s pretty good.”

The race marks the end of Ross’ outstanding Duke career where she earned numerous accolades including five-time All-America honors, two ACC individual championships in the 800 and the ACC postgraduate scholarship.

In the men’s discus, redshirt junior Austin Gamble finished 13th overall, earning second team All-America honors. The Weston, Fla., native earned his best mark on his second attempt, measuring 186-7 (56.89).

“Austin looked really good in warm-ups. His first throw was a little bit off, not a good technical throw. He bounced back with a good throw in his second attempt and was able to have a good showing and earn. Next year, we look forward to big things.”

A handful of Blue Devils, including Ross, will compete at the 2013 USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships in hopes of qualifying for the IAAF World Championships in Moscow, Russia.